June 24-July 7                      Southwest Harbor, Maine

The coastal Maine ambiance easily seduces one into days of leisure and contemplation (more of the former than the latter).  We are reluctant to let anything interfere with this wonderful state but, alas, work beckons.  David has been increasingly occupied with the business sale of one of his long-time clients and close friends.  It is a complicated matter and daily phone calls and e-mails occupy much of his time.  He seems to be enjoying the challenges of securing the best possible financial and taxation advantages possible.  However, his pre-occupation with this matter has prevented us from embarking on any short cruises from Southwest Harbor.

We enjoy the Arcadia Reparatory Theater in Somesville, a small village only ten minutes from our dock.  The season’s first offering was Tuesdays with Morrie, based upon the best-selling book by Mitch Albom.  With a two-person cast and minimal staging, it was a riveting, emotional experience that elicited considerable afterwards discussion.  We are always impressed with the quality of acting and staging that this small theater group presents each year.

The Red Sky Restaurant is locally well-known and renowned for being a favorite of David Rockefeller, a long-time resident of nearby Seal Harbor.  It is a small, non-descript presence on a side street of Southwest Harbor and open only for dinner.  The menu is limited but offers exceptional choices.  I ordered an appetizer of Blue Hills Greens with Shitake mushrooms over polenta with balsamic vinegar glaze and an entree of lobster and risotto.  David enjoyed a salad with an entrée of grilled plank steak.  We shared a dessert of crème Brule.  We agreed the food, service and ambiance were exceptional.

The Fourth of July brought an opportunity to decorate the bow of the boat with red, white and blue banners. Many small boat owners came to the marina with their families to watch the fireworks display.  The weather was cool and exceptionally pleasant.  Mary and Ed Dysarts, owners of the marina, and Micah and Jane, their managerial staff, hosted a dock party which featured great holiday food and drinks. 

This gave us the opportunity to meet again other dock residents.  Bruce and Joan Kessler, whose boat Spirt of Zopilote is a frequent visitor to Southwest Harbor, are movie veterans who eschewed that lifestyle to circle the globe in their boat.  Other guests were from Canada and various parts of the United States.  Again, we realize the most interesting part of travel is the interesting and diverse people you meet entroute.